(story told in Genesis 16; 21)
Hagar was an Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. When Sarah couldn’t have children, she gave Hagar to Abraham so that he could have a child through her. Hagar became pregnant, but tension quickly grew between her and Sarah. Feeling mistreated, Hagar ran away into the desert, alone and afraid. Yet even in that lonely place, God saw her pain and sent an angel to comfort her.
The angel told Hagar to return home and promised that her son would grow into a great nation. God said she should name him Ishmael, which means “God hears,” because the Lord had heard her cries. This moment showed that God cares deeply for the unseen and the forgotten. Hagar was the first person in the Bible to give God a name—she called Him “El Roi,” meaning “the God who sees me.”
Later, after Isaac was born to Sarah, the tension returned. Sarah asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. It was a heartbreaking moment, but God assured Abraham that He would also bless Ishmael.
In the desert once again, when their water ran out, Hagar wept as she watched her son suffer. God heard the boy’s cries and opened Hagar’s eyes to see a well of water nearby, saving their lives. God renewed His promise that Ishmael would become a great nation.
Hagar’s story reminds us that God sees, hears, and cares for everyone—especially those who feel lost or rejected. Even in the wilderness, His presence brings hope, comfort, and a future.